One-piece chuting



R. MEUNIER ONE-PIECE CHUTING March 7, 1967 Filed June 9, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet l :Ei i| r? FR 11%. I p 2 8 3 60 INVENTOR Ru herl Mannie?ATTORNEYS March 7, 1967 R. MEUNIER 3,397,452

. ONE-PIECE CHUTING Filed June 9, 1965 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIR vHuber Meumer H' 7 1'1. Q B W W M a 9 I ATTORNEYS Filed June 9, 1965March 7, 1967 R. MEUNIER 3,307,452,

ONE-PIECE CHUTING 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I k 4a l6 34 3s 22 78 76 52 50INVENTOR Ember i Mannie-r ATToiQNEYs United States Patent 3,307,452ONE-PIECE CHUTING Robert Meunier, Springfield, Mass., assignor to theUnited States of Americans represented by the Secretary of the Army 7Filed June 9, 1965, Ser. No. 462,765 6 Claims. (Cl. 89-33) The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Governmentfor governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royaltythereon.

This invention relates to machine guns and pertains more particularly tochuting for guiding an ammunition belt thereto.

In modern weapons systems containing a machine gun fed with cartridgesfrom a storage container by means of a linked ammunition belt, chutingis required for guidingly supporting the ammunition belt to the gunbecause of the high degree of flexibility of the belt and the oftentimescircuitous routing required thereof.

The chuting, because of this circuitous routing, must have limitedflexibility but must-also be sufliciently rigid at the limits of theflexible range to slidingly support the ammunition belt passingtherethrough. The chuting must also be formed so as to suflicientlyinclose the belt to protect the cartridges while being moved to the gun,and it must be designed so that it can be readily shortened orlengthened for application in various systems and so that damaged unitscan bereplaced.

Previously, the chuting which has been available has; consisted ofseveral different components for each section, which makesit veryexpensive to manufacture and very complicated for the connection anddisconnection of the sections.

Also, cartridges have been introduced into modern ordnance havingprojectiles with very sensitive nose sections. All present chutingguides the ammunition belt by contact of the nose sections of thecartridges therein with the related side of the chuting, which is notpossible with sensitive nose cartridges.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide for machine gunsystems a chuting which consists of a single piece unit which is easilyconnected and disconnected to others thereof and which is easilyfabricated by conventional press methods in one piece.

It is a further object of this invention to provide chuting whichcooperates with the link member of an ammunition belt for guiding thebelt through the chuting so that the nose sections of the projectileswill not contact the related side thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specification and the accompanying drawings which are forthe purpose of illustration only and in which:

FIG. 1 is a reduced top view showing how the chuting unit of thisinvention is cut out in one piece from sheet steel before being pressedinto its final configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the unit after being pressed into itsfinal configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the chuting showing the initial step inconnecting another unit thereto;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the second and final step in theoperation of connecting the additional unit to the chuting;

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the relationship of the units when thechuting is fanned;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the chuting as shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an end view of the ammunition belt in the chuting showing theposition of the linked cartridge as controlled by contact of the linkwith the guide projection of the chuting unit.

Shown in the drawings is a flexible chuting 12 for slidingly guiding toa gun (not shown) an ammunition belt 14 comprising a plurality ofconnected links 16 with cartridges 18 therein. Chuting 12 consists of aplurality of single piece units 20 which are replacably joined togetheras hereinafter described for limited fanning and bending and which arecomplete in themselves without the requirement of additional components.

As shown in FIG. 1, unit 20 is cut in one piece from a flat sheet ofsteel having a high degree of resilience and strength, such as stainlesssteel 301, /2 hard, and which can be bent by conventional press methodsto form the finished unit shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, unit 20is essentially rectangular in configuration with a base 22, a pair ofsides 24 extending upwardly at right angles from the ends thereof, and apair of top sections 26 which extend towards each other from the upperends of the sides in spaced relationship.

A corrugation 28 is formed around the front edge of unit 20 forstiffening purposes and is pressed inwardly to form a convex bearingsurface 30 around the inside of the unit. A tab 32 extends rearwardlyfrom each of the sides 24 and a bridge 34, similar to configuration tothe tabs, extends rearwardly from base 22. Bridge 34 is positioned so asto be slidingly contacted by links 16 as ammunition belt 14 passesthrough unit 20. I

Tabs 32 and bridge 34 are provided with offset sections 36 and 38 andoverlapping sections 40 and 42, respectively. Offset sections 36 and 38offset overlapping sections 40 and 42, respectively, a distance equal tothe depth of corrugation 28 so that the overlapping sections areinsertable inside another unit 20. Overlapping sections 40 and 42 arealso long enough to provide a bridge between connected units 20 and soform continuous sliding surfaces 43 and 44 along the base and sides ofchuting 12, respectively. Tabs 32 moreover, serve to slidingly maintainthe connected units 20 against relative lateral displacement.

Extending rearwardly from each of the top sections 26 is a coupling 46and extending rearwardly from base 22 directly opposite such couplingsis a pair of couplings 48 which are similar to couplings 46 except ashereinafter noted. Couplings 46 and 48 are similar to tabs 32 and bridge34 as to overall configuration with each including an offset section andan overlapping section to compensate for corrugation 28.

Couplings 48 are each provided with a connector 50 of C configurationwhich includes a lip 52 formed from an extension 54 to the respectivecoupling, which is bent forwardly, and another lip 58 which is formed bycutting a tongue 60 in the respective coupling up to corrugation 28, asnoted in FIG. 1, and then bending the tongue rearwardly until the endsof the lips form an opening 62. The cut which forms tongue 66 also formsin base 22, a bar 64 which is essentially a section of corrugation 28.

A connector 66 is formed on each of the couplings 46 similar to themethod of forming connectors 50 and each of the connectors includes aforwardly facing lip 68 and a rearwardly facing lip 70 with an opening72 formed therebetween. Lip 70 is formed to flair outwardly and therebybe oflset from lip 68, as is best shown in FIG. 6, to facilitateconnecting and disconnecting pairs of units 20, as will be hereinafterexplained. A bar 74 is also formed similar to bar 64 in each of the topsections 26 by the formation of lip 70.

Openings 62 are wide enough to pass bars 64 of another unit 20 intoconnectors 50 when the added unit is disposed at right angles to the endone of the chuting 12, as shown in FIG. 3, but the width of such bars isgreater than the width of openings 62 so that the bars are preventedfrom withdrawal from connectors 59 after the added unit is swung intoalignment with the end units of chuting 12.

Bars 74 are insertable through openings 72 into connectors 46, tocomplete the connection of the added unit 20 to chuting 12, by firstswinging the added unit into alignment with chuting 2t? and thengrasping one of the top sections 26 of the end unit of the chutingbetween the thumb and curved index finger of one hand, so that the thumbcan press downwardly on coupling 46 therein, and similarly grasping thecorresponding top section of the added unit with the opposite hand, asshown in FIG. 4, so that the thumb thereof can press downwardly againstbar 74. By twisting the grasped top sections 26 and pressing downwardlyon bar 74 and the associated coupling 46 the bar can be inserted intoone corner of opening 72 and then the remainder of the bar can be easilypressed through the opening into the connector. The passage of bar '74through opening 72 is facilitated by the offset relationship of the lips68 and 70 and the arcuate configuration of the bar which is a section ofcorrugation 28. The other top sections 26 of the added unit 20 and theend unit of chuting 12 are similarly joined to complete the connectionof the added unit to the chuting.

A section of chuting 12 can be disconnected therefrom by reversing theabove noted steps.

Couplings 48 and 46 are formed so that the long axis thereof,respectively noted at X and Y, are sufiiciently greater than the widthsof the related bars 64 and 74, to permit relative displacement betweenthe connected units 20 for limited fanning and bending of chuting 12.When bars 64 and 74 are in contact with one of the ends of the relatedcouplings 46 and 48, as chuting 12 is bent or fanned, the connectedunits 29 provide a firm guide for passage of ammunition belttherethrough. Fanning and bending are facilitated by the arcuateconfiguration of bearing surface which minimizes the area of contactbetween the moving surfaces and provides rocking contact therebetween.

Integrally formed in each of the units 20 is a guide projection 76 whichextends upwardly thereinto for sliding contact by a cooperating flange78 on the front end of each of the links 16 during passage of ammunitionbelt 14 through chuting 12 thus, ammunition belt 14 is guided betweenthe sliding contacts of the bases of the cartridges 18 therein withsides 24' and tabs 32 of units 20 and the sliding contact of the flanges78 with the guide projections 76 to prevent axial displacement ofcartridges 1.8, while passing through chuting 12.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised withinthe spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended toinclude such variations.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ammunition belt composed of a plurality ofconnected links and cartridges carried thereby, a chuting unit formed inone piece from a single sheet of metal, said unit being essentially ofrectangular configuration and including a base, a pair of sidesextending at right angles from opposite ends of said base, a pair of topsections respectively extending towards each other in spacedrelationship from said sides, a corrugation disposed to extend aroundsaid unit adjacent to one edge in a manner to provide a convex bearingsurface around the inside of said unit, and integral connector means forreleasably connecting said unit to another said unit to form a flexiblechuting for slidingly guiding said ammunition belt between two stations,said connector means including a first pair of connectors rearwardlydisposed in each of said top sections, a second pair of connectorsrearwardly disposed in said base directly opposite said first pair ofconnectors, and four bars formed from sections of said corrugation forrespective insertion into said first and second pair of connectors forreleasably joining said unit to said another unit, said connectors andthe respective ones of said bars cooperating to permit limited fanningand bending relationship between said unit and said another unit.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondpairs of connectors are each of a C configuration including a pair oflips with a space formed therebetween, wherein said space in each ofsaid second pair of connectors and the respective ones of said bars areso arranged that said bars of said unit are insertable through therespective ones of said spaces of said another unit only when said unitand said another unit are disposed at right angles to each other, andwherein said pair of lips of said first pair of connectors are offsetrespective to each other to permit insertion of the respective ones ofsaid bars through said space in said first pair of connectors only whenthe respective ones of said'top sections in said unit and said anotherunit are each in an abnormal twisted configuration.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said connectors are eachformed on a rearwardly extending coupling in said unit, and wherein saidcoupling includes an overlapping section insertable into said anotherunit and an ofiset section offsetting said overlapping section tocompensate for said bearing surface.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said sidesincludes a rearwardly extending tab having an overlapping sectioninsertable within said another unit, an offset portion ofisetting saidoverlapping section to compensate for said bearing surface, and whereinsaid overlapping sections of said unit cooperate with said overlappingsections of said another unit when said unit is connected thereto toform a continuous sliding surface.

5. The invention as defined in claim '2 wherein said base includes arearwardly extending bridge arranged for sliding contact by said linkswhen passing through said unit, said bridge including an overlappingsection insertable into said another unit and an offset set offsettingsaid overlapping section to compensate for said bearing surface.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said bars isformed by the formation of one of said lips in each of said connectors.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,378,652 6/1945Nobles et al. 19325 2,473,716 6/1949 Lewis et al. 193-25 2,488,67911/1949 Nobles.

2,953,230 6/1960 Aumann 19325 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

S. C. BENTLEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN AMMUNITION BELT COMPOSED OF A PLURALITY OFCONNECTED LINKS AND CARTRIDGES CARRIED THEREBY, A CHUTING UNIT FORMED INONE PIECE FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF METAL, SAID UNIT BEING ESSENTIALLY OFRECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION AND INCLUDING A BASE, A PAIR OF SIDESEXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BASE, A PAIR OF TOPSECTIONS RESPECTIVELY EXTENDING TOWARDS EACH OTHER IN SPACEDRELATIONSHIP FROM SAID SIDES, A CORRUGATION DISPOSED TO EXTEND AROUNDSAID UNIT ADJACENT TO ONE EDGE IN A MANNER TO PROVIDE A CONVEX BEARINGSURFACE AROUND THE INSIDE OF SAID UNIT, AND INTEGRAL CONNECTOR MEANS FORRELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID UNIT TO ANOTHER SAID UNIT TO FORM A FLEXIBLECHUTING FOR SLIDINGLY GUIDING SAID AMMUNITION BELT BETWEEN TWO STATIONS,SAID CONNECTOR MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST PAIR OF CONNECTORS REARWARDLYDISPOSED IN EACH OF SAID TOP SECTIONS, A SECOND PAIR OF CONNECTORSREARWARDLY DISPOSED IN SAID BASE DIRECTLY OPPOSITE SAID FIRST PAIR OFCONNECTORS, AND FOUR BARS FORMED FROM SECTIONS OF SAID CORRUGATION FORRESPECTIVE INSERTION INTO INTO SAID FIRST AND SECOND PAIR OF CONNECTORSFOR RELEASABLY JOINING SAID UNIT TO SAID ANOTHER UNIT, SAID CONNECTORSAND THE RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID BARS COOPERATING TO PERMIT LIMITEDFANNING AND BENDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAID UNIT AND SAID ANOTHERUNIT.